Yazd  souvenirs are  various, some  of  which  are  world famous  including  carpets  with  charming  patterns; pileless  carpets, tirma (a kind of cashmere), brodcaded  silk, velvet, blankets, bed-cloths, earthen ware,engraving, glassware and  leather  ware. Being delicate and beautiful, these handicrafts are suitable  to be kept as souvenirs. Yazd is also famous for its various sweets, the most well known  are  Pashmak (cotton candy), Baqlava  and  Qotab.

Baqlava

Baqlava is a rich,sweet pastry made of  layers of  filo filled with chop ped nuts

and sweetened and held together with syrup or honey. It is characteristic of the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire, and is also found in Central and West Asia.

History

The history of  baqlava  is not well documented. There are three proposals for the pre-Ottoman roots of  baqlava : the Central Asian Turkic tradition of  layered breads, the Roman placenta  cake, as developed through Byzantine cuisine,or the Persian lauzinaq.

Preparation

Baqlava is normally prepared in large pans. Many layers of  phyllo dough, separated with melted butter and vegetable oil, are laid in the pan. A layer of chopped nuts-typically walnuts or pistachios, but hazelnuts are also sometimes

used- is placed on top, then more layers of phyllo. Most recipes have multiple

layers of phyllo and nuts, though some have only top and bottom pastry.

Before baking (180 C, 30 minutes), the dough is cut into regular pieces, often parallelograms (lozenge-shaped),triangles, diamonds or rectangles. After baking , a syrup, which may include honey, rosewater, or  orange flower water is poured over the cooked baqlava and allowed to soak in.

Baqlava is usually served at room temperature, often garnished with ground nuts. 

Regional Variations

In Iran,a drier version of  baqlava is cooked and presented in smaller diamond- shaped cuts flavored with rose water . The cities of  Yazd and Qazvin are famous for their baqlava , which is widely distributed in Iran. Persian  baqlava  uses a combination of chopped almonds and pistachios spiced with cardamom and a rose water-scented syrup and is lighter than other Middle Eastern versions. Azerbaijani pakhlava is widely eaten  in Iran, espesiaaly in Iranian Azerbaijan

Pashmak

Pashmak (Persian: پشمک‎‎) is a form of  Persian candy floss or cotton candy, made from sesame and sugar. The word  Pashmak  in  Persian  is composed  of پشم pashm [wool] + ـَک ak [resemblance suffix] meaning “wool-like”, as the confectionery resembles sheep’s  wool.

Pashmak  is  served on its own or as an accompaniment to fruits, cakes, ice creams, puddings and desserts.

Pashmak originated  in  the  Iranian  city  of  Yazd  known  for  its  various traditional  Persian  sweets  such  as  Baqlava, Qottab, and Gaz.

A Turkish sweet called pişmaniye  bears  some  resemblance  to  Pashmak.

Industrialization

Always known for the quality of its silk and carpets, Yazd today is one of Iran’s industrial centers for textiles. There is also a considerable ceramics and construction materials industry and unique confectionery and  jewelry  industries.

A significant portion of the population is also employed in other industries including agriculture, dairy, metal works, and machine manufacturing. There are a number of companies involved in the growing information technology industry, mainly manufacturing primary materials such as cables and connectors. Currently Yazd is the home of the largest manufacturer of fibre optics in Iran.

Yazd’s confectioneries have a tremendous following throughout Iran and have been a source of tourism for the city. Confectioners workshops (khalifehs, or experts) keep their recipes a guarded secret, and there are many that have remained a private family business for many generations. Baklava, Ghotab  and  Pashmak are the most popular sweets made in the city.

In 2000 the Yazd Water Museum opened; it features exhibits of  water storage vessels and historical technologies related to water.

Yazd has expanded its industrial fields since the 1980s. With at least three main industrial areas each containing over 70 different factories, Yazd has become one of  the  most technologically advanced cities of  Iran. The most famous corporations include Yazd Steel, Shimi Plastic of  Yazd, and Yazd Polymer.